A: The hotel is undergoing a $54 million renovation and will soon become the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel. There will be a new entrance facing Royal Street sporting modern, sweeping arches and new nautical stars in the architecture. "It ties into the nautical theme," said Mayers.

A: A Baltimore native, Mayers majored in political science at the University of Maryland, but entered the hotel business through a friend and has continued in it for 21 years. Mayers has been at the Riverview since October 2004, three months after the Retirement Systems of Alabama purchased the property from the Presidio Group in California. "I saw this as a wonderful opportunity to be part of the renaissance of the downtown area." Mayers said his experience across the South with what is now Interstate Hotel and Resorts has prepared him for the job, as well as taking on some supervisory responsibilities at the newly renovated Battle House Hotel. He said he has worked at three historic hotels during his career.

Q: How does the Riverview fit into what's going on downtown with the RSA Battle House project.

A: "The Battle House, of the two hotels, will be more upscale than the Riverview Plaza," Mayers said. "The Riverview will be more group-oriented. The nice thing for guests coming into the community is that they can choose from two different experiences." By next fall, the Riverview will have a crown similar to the RSA Tower's, though smaller in scale, he said.

Q: What other changes will guests notice about the new Renaissance Riverview?

A: Mayers said the interior will feature a more modern style, with vibrant blues, reds and golds. Guests coming in from the new Royal Street entrance will be greeted by a large, blue-tiled wall fountain. Already, guests see new furniture with sweeping modern lines and a ceiling that includes twinkling-star lights above the bar area. During the renovation, the bar will double as the hotel's main restaurant. All guest rooms are outfitted with nautical symbols and artwork, and the names of the meeting rooms have been changed to such monikers as Windjammer and Admiral. When completed, the hotel will have 374 rooms and 11 suites. There will be more open spaces for special events, such as a balcony area on top of the newly named Bon Secour ballroom, where tents can be set up for parties and receptions.

Q: How will the hotels work together?

A: "The staff can go back and forth," Mayers said. "If you have a lot of banquet events at the Battle House, the staff of the Riverview can go over there and assist. The same can be said for a multitude of positions. It really helps supplement the hotels and provide a higher level of service." The Riverview will have about 200 employees.

Q: What will the changes and additional hotel rooms mean for Mardi Gras in Mobile?

A: "Downtown Mobile will be a larger draw," Mayers said, "not only because of the proximity and parade route, but history is a tremendous thing. It will bring in more traffic to the downtown area and enhance our demand."

Q: Where do you see the hotel five years from now?

A: The Riverview aims to create the kind of customer experience that will make downtown Mobile "a destination," Mayers said. "Our guests are going to want to come to the downtown area for conventions."